An enormous achievement for our very young singers-our youngest is only 7 and yet they all performed superbly. There was much great feedback from the audience- most professional, excellent, wonderful singing for such young singers etc etc. This makes me, the Musical Director VERY proud. In fact the work was well sung and played by all, and the hell fires of the Dies Irae alm ost gave me palpitations! We were joined by former choristers Morgan Thomas, now in his first year at Bristol University who came to support Rhys, and Hannah Nicholson Tottle from the University of Wales. who is something of a Britten expert and kindly came to support Amelia and the Sopranosp. The conductor, Jonathan Rogers during the rehearsal, alluded to the excellent sound and tuning of the young singers. This tells me that now our new young choir are steadily reaching the standards during the last year, of our illustrious former choir. Keep working like this, and we will become an international Choir.

The Nidus Christmas Extravaganza has become a much loved annual institution. Even after singing earlier in the day at Saint Pierre, they were in good voice and sang a superb concert, enthusiastically and also with great spirit. The Christmas Goose was performed humorously and the solos all excellent. The Raffle took place, and Jo Courtney and the Committee (especially Tim Walker who designed and printed the programmes) who organised and spent the afternoon setting up the tables and organising the food, which once again this year was delicious!! The Mummers' Play was much enjoyed, with the Mari Lwyd making its appearance at the end to make it all end happily. Professionals, Gabriela Nicholson-Dunbar and Nicholis Dunbar, Christian Jenkins and Georgia Nicholson-Tottle all performed their famous 'Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas,' to great enjoyment. Their group will be singing again on Christmas Eve at the Parkway Hotel from 8pm.

Evelyn Nicholson, the choir's Musical Director thanked everyone heartily for sll helpful actions of so many people, Jo Courtney for leading the committee in the organisation of the Extravagance and her tireless work in managing to get everyone kitted out with a dress. All the Committee, including NORMA and JACKIE for their free work every week at the Tuck Shop which sells delicious wraps and rolls as lunches for the children. The proceeds from the Tuck Shop go to our fundraising pot as well, and we sincerely thank them for their free work.

A Highlight of the Christmas Season! A Party and a concert! What a great lot!​

Evelyn Nicholson, the MD of Nidus Children's Choir and Ian Jenkins, her husband. Enjoying the lovely Extravaganza. Work learned, now sit back and enjoy!!!

Saint Pierre Hotel and Gold Course and Manor House near Chepstow for St David's Hospice Care, Wales. Thank you for Christian conducting again in this beautiful former Norman Manor house. They had their usual impressive tree in the Bailey and all sorts of things were on offer. Our usual fare, but we only sang for thirty minutes. As our finale we sang Winter Wonderland, and before singing that the choir put down their files . Unfortunately it was a signal to a sort of band of drummers outside to begin some military drumming ouside the door. It reminded my of the carillon Bell in Graz as we sang the The Blue Danube which went on and on for ages as the children valiantly kept on singing to the end -to great applause. Luckily parents quickly closed the door and we finished on a high to great applause!!! Thank you to all for suporting this wonderful charity.

On November 17th , the Nidus Choir were invited to Two Locks Church, by long term supporters of the choir, the lovely Christine and Rob Dunbar-Mrs D is how she is known to her tap students at Nidus Theatre Arts. This was for the benefits of struggling people in the community, members and non members of their church. The ladies of the congregation had made a 'truly scruptuous' buffet for all the ticket holders and for the choir and it was a lovely evening. The Church has undergone some beautification with a lovely nativity displays outside next to the canal. A wonderful setting.The Pastor of the Church gave a vote of thanks and everyone left.happy and jolly and well fed.Thank you for the lovely organisation and a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas preparation, which included Rutter's Angel Carol, Star Carol, and some of our youngest members singing solos -with the microphone, while Rhys Nicholson (Baritone) sang his 'The Three Kings' by Peter Cornelius. Backing him were Amelia Hughes and myself with Bachs How brightly shines the Morning Star. Originally the choir were to sing this, but the amount of time working on the War Requiem, meant that only two sang with him. It is something for next year, perhaps. Amelia Hughes (Soprano) sang her outstanding Gesu Bambino- traditional Italian Carol and Olivia Gibbs sang Michael Head's Little Road to Bethlehem. There were also some excellent contributions in the Medieval Carol Gaudete. Jessica Millard, not only sang her verse of Away in a Manger,in the French version, beautifully and also her verse in Gaudete in perfect Latin, as well as Gwenan McConnell Lawlor singing for the first time! Our young stars all did so well, and our finale, Silver Bells, Winter Wonderland and White Christmas.... Well done Choir

OCTOBER 7th. Tim Debbie and Emily really did a wonderful thing for the choir, helping with the fundraising and giving the choir the opportunity to see the lovely village, which is Devauden. Emily, her sister and Debbie seem to have cooked non stop on the Saturday and this support for the choir will help us so much. It takes money to run a choir and no staff get paid anything but expenses. The Choir sang its repertoire from earlier in the year- Water of Tyne, Singabahamba etc. They did splendidly, again with Heidi rehearsing some of the songs, selecting backing tracks, playing them on the day, Christian coming to conduct (and taking his turn on the zip wire afterwards). Thank you to him for coming to do this. Rhys and Millie again entertained us with their Mozart duet Bei Maennern welche Liebe fuhlen. Everyone left after an excellently performed and organised concert, while Tim and his team were all putting the tables away. So grateful to the Committee and all the parents who help us raise money.Donations can be made on this web site.

We returned to practice this term with seven new members interested in joining us . I was not expecting so many and it was exciting to see new people emerge to try out. Unfortunately there was not enough music , yet we managed to go through some of our pieces and managed to learn the Domine Jesu Christe from the War Requiem, which went quite well as a start. We also brushed up various other repertoire for the afternoon tea concert we shall be enjoying at Devauden on 7th October. We were also rehearsing in a new room-slightly smaller, but nevertheless adequate and it was good to see the choristers so motivated.​We hope to go from strength to strength and lean another piece from the War Requiem next week-Te Decet Humnus. I sense there is a sense of excitement about this term as there are so many excellent projects ahead! The importance of doing a good job with the Britten is on everyone's mind and I am proud of their committment.

The decision by the organisers of this event to move this a week earlier than usual means it has now clashed with the whole day we have to be in Swansea on Sunday 2nd Decemberfor the dress rehearsal of the War Requiem and the performance in the evening. Their new date is very disappointing for the choir. Last year's event was cancelled because of snow, and both choir and parents love it so much. What a great pity. But we still have the Christmas Evening at Monmouth on 7th December, which likewise will be very successful and enjoyable for the choirs. The Abergavenny Christmas Festival was a high spot of the choir's year and the adult section enjoyed it too joining in with a lot of the carols and sampling the food and drinks.

On the 2nd July 2018, The Nidus CHildren's Choir arrived at the Celtic Manor Hotel near Newport, to sing for the occasion of the renaming of the Severn Bridge as 'The Prince of Wales Bridge.' The conductor Evelyn Nicholson, Heidi Nicholson and Sarah Huxley from the Ashton Gate Bristol Primary School which joined them and decided on two songs, to symbolise the coming together of the two towns on the Estuary. Our Nidus Choice turned out to be Moon River, which we had ready tosing and in two weeks, and two rehearsals the choirs prepared for 'Getting to Know you' from The King and I which both thought was very apt, the tolls on the Severn Bridge, disappearing later this year. On the minus side, the intense heat was very challenging all day, with little complaint from the tough little singers. I particularly enjoyed the music of the harpist, playing Welsh airs throughout and with their royal highnesses walked around mingling with the crowds.

There was a lot of waiting around, rehearsing with the Ashton Gate choir, some very nice voices, and a serious rehearsal session first thing in the morning. Another wait before a sound check, the first song-Moon River, then the marquee had filled with Welsh business leaders, First Secretary Carwyn Jones and the Secretary of state Alun Cairns. Their royal Highnesses came into the marquee and began to be presented to the guests .Finally the choir reassembled , the Bristol Choir included in the middle section and the music track began.Getting to know you. After a rehearsal which was a bit 'touch and go' as the two choirs familiarised themselves with each others' styles., the end result was brilliant. From the semi chorus at the beginning to the rousing ending, in three parts, the children were inspired to new heights, and Sarah generously said to me how glad she was that the children had had the opportunity to sing with a choir like Nidus. We all got on very well indeed and was a delightful occasion. Parents and choir members appeared really happy, many of them having met the Prince or the Duchess of Cornwall. The choristers in both choirs were very excited!!!

Many other important people from Bristol (Lord Lieutenant, Mayor and Mayoress attended) and the South Wales Argust was very interested indeed in the choir. This was a historic occasion , including the removall of the tolls, which the choristers will always remember. They did not let themselves, nor the inheritance of the legendary Nidus choir down. An excellent performance, with some beautiful performances. Many of the business leaders stopped to congratulate myself and the choir on their performcne.

Emily Walker joined the Nidus Choir last year and busily went about achieving her Grade 2 Certificate of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.this year. Singing in the Christmas concerts, Emily has continued to attend regularly. She was a Gold medallist singer at the Hereford Musical Festival, and came third in her school's Eisteddfod against other Year 6's. Emily has a wealth of high notes and also sings in her school choir. Here she is pictured with the cup from her school Inglefield House of Monmouth School for Girls- a prize given to the child who has contributed most towards music in her school amidst considerable competition. Emily is a talented swimmer and keen cyclist. Sheis currently preparing Grade 4 Singing and sang a solo in the Black Velvet Band, an Irish Folk Song with Lily May and Jessica Millard, who all gave spirited performances......

Nidus Choir Members Lily May Davey and Oliva Gibbs singing 'Panis Angelicus' at St Mary's Church. Bryn Eglwys, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran. Both recently achieved their Grade IV Singing with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. A lovely performance!